A SCHOOLGIRL tipped as a future Olympic swimming star died suddenly hours after attending a party to celebrate winning a clutch of trophies.

Chloe Waddell, 16, who competed alongside Rebecca Adlington and was expected to join Team GB in Brazil in 2016, was found unconscious by her parents, it emerged yesterday.

Helped by a 999 operator, David and Fiona Waddell fought to revive Chloe but she went into cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead minutes after arriving at hospital.

The night before Chloe, who took part in trials for the London Olympics with double gold medallist Adlington, had been presented with awards by her swimming club, including one for outstanding achievement.

She went to a friend’s house and was picked up by businessman Mr Waddell, 50, and his wife and driven to their £400,000 home in Timperley, near Altrincham, south Manchester.

She went to bed but was taken ill at around 8.30am on Sunday.

The couple were told by police that Chloe stumbled at the party and may have hit her head but they had no reason to suspect she had hurt herself.

There was never a dark day for Chloe. Everywhere she went she had lots of friends Mrs Waddell

Chloe, a member of the Swim Trafford Trust and Altrincham Swimming Club, was the regional 800 metres freestyle champion.

Mrs Waddell, 46, and her husband said in a statement yesterday: “We are devastated. Chloe was exceptionally outgoing, extremely popular and had a wonderful smile – she had a kind word for everybody at all times.

“There was never a dark day for Chloe. Everywhere she went she had lots of friends.”

Chloe trained eight times a week, waking at 4.30am to swim before school in a bid to fulfil her Olympic dream. She had recently been to France with British Swimming and hoped to compete in the European Junior Championships later this year.

There was never a dark day for Chloe. Everywhere she went she had lots of friends

Mrs Waddell

Mrs Waddell added: “Chloe loved swimming and was very focused on it. She wanted to go as far as she could and everything she did she gave 100 per cent. We are very proud of her.”

James Stannard, her coach at Swim Trafford, said: “She was so talented. As a small squad this has rocked us.”

High-flier Chloe went to Altrincham Grammar School for Girls and was due to take her GCSEs this summer.

Head teacher Mary Speakman said: “Everyone is shocked and deeply saddened. She was truly gifted and had real prospects of making Team GB.”

Police are awaiting test results on the cause of death but have ruled out reports on social media sites that it was the result of excessive drinking. A Greater Manchester Police spokes­man said: “There are not believed to be suspicious circumstances.”